I gaze longingly at a distant horizon, one lost in the haze of memory. I do not notice the coppery topaz sky over mountains, the soft gray and peach of polished jasper. The vivid ruby and carat rich golden glow of sunset captures me in a perfect setting. I remember the ring of promise.

Morphing to a crisp fall day, I recall the emerald grass near the rushing water of a stream as I commit myself to a life with the man of my dreams. Our past washes away like the garnet red maple leaf twisting in the current. Our now, glowing amber with the warmth of true love, we revel in the newness. Our future, an opal mist of possibility, fills us with barely contained excitement. Once separate dreams join in a kaleidoscope of jewels, crowning us for growing old together. He calls me beautiful, his princess. I tumble deeper into the treasure of his eyes, the circle of his arms.

A subtle shift of shadows, I find a world of onyx. The light disappears, lost in the corners of a heart broken with loss, cracked with uncertainty. Despair envelopes me in a tarnished cloak, heavy with grief. I search the world around me for a glimmer of hope to cut through the pain. My chest constricts with pitted bands of loneliness.

Like a ring tucked into a jewel box, the sun slips lower. The turquoise edges of the sky flow gently into sapphire twinkling with diamonds. I look down at my wedding ring. A ghost of a smile creases my face as joy polishes the tumbling oppressive thoughts. Crystal clarity, a unique necklace of peace with a platinum locket of hope settles against my heart.

The now amethyst sky glimmers with the rising silver moon. Chuckling softly, I wrap myself in surety of a reunion. Though widowed, I am not alone. As complex as I am, my logic is simple, my faith strong. The irritants of this life, the trials, temporary and fleeting, refine us. They circle and adhere, creating jewels. They turn us into treasured servants for Christ. Gazing up, I whisper a prayer.

Lord, Thank You for the time with my husband. Thank You for filling the hole in my heart with the richness of Your love for me. I pray I honor You as I move through this stage of life. I pray this time of refinement glorifies You. When I stand before You, I pray You find me a pearl. Amen.

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I have just finished reading through all of the intermediate entries and I have accumulated several favorites, yours is one of them. I love the descriptive way you journey through the stages of your life and how you ended with a solid message.I think it will be hard to choose the winners from this intermediate group, in my opinion there are several outstanding entries.
Cathy

This was such a beautiful entry. I touched me and then touched me again and again.
Beautifully written, such a classy and unique flowery style of writing. And, the sentiments and meaning behind the words...leave me breathless.

I loved this amazingly poignant and extremely lovely entry. Thank you for sharing. You will meet again one day...and how you will rejoice in the presence of the Lord and to see your hubby again.

This is a lovely bit of free verse poetry. I think some might falter in it looking for more of a story line but I thought the comparison of jewels to the different feelings the MC experienced was full of richness.

This was a great article, a bit flowery for my tastes, but powerful never-the-less. The translation from a world awash with hope to the darkest despair, and then back to self-chosen hope is awesome. That hope comes from the one who is never crushed by circumstances, and who can rebirth one's life to be different, but abundant